Ford Fusion Quiz
Body and Paint

Paint Defects and Damage. General Procedures

In this manual: Body and Paint
General Information — 26Chassis — 150Powertrain — 282Electrical — 271Body and Paint — 300
24steps
~144min
4/5difficulty
Done 0 of 24

Materials

Name Specification
Motorcraft® Detail Wash
ZC-3-A		 ESR-M14P4-A
Motorcraft® Acid Neutralizer
ZC-1-A		 -
Motorcraft® Alkaline Neutralizer
ZC-2-A		 -

Repair

  1. NOTICE: Never paint over iron particles, as rust spots will reappear. Use only the recommended decontamination procedure described below.

    Rinse dust, dirt and foreign matter from the vehicle body with cold water. Rinse thoroughly.
  2. Prepare the acid neutralizer by mixing 8 parts water with 1 part neutralizer in a bucket.
    Material: Motorcraft® Acid Neutralizer. / ZC-1-A

  3. NOTICE: To avoid paint damage, do not allow the product to dry on the vehicle.

    Work quickly and start at the top of the vehicle, working sideways, and apply the neutralizer mixture to the entire vehicle. Soak the vehicle with the solution and agitate lightly for 5 to 7 minutes. Continue moving around the vehicle 4-5 times. For severe conditions, work the product for up to 8 minutes.
  4. Rinse the vehicle thoroughly with cold water to remove the product.
  5. Dry only the horizontal surfaces of the vehicle; do not dry the glass at this time.

  6. NOTICE: To avoid damage to the painted surface, do not apply the alkaline neutralizer directly to the plastic trim of the vehicle.

    Pour the alkaline neutralizer into a spray bottle and apply the solution to a clean closed-loop wash mitt.
    Material: Motorcraft® Alkaline Neutralizer. / ZC-2-A

  7. NOTICE: To avoid paint damage, do not allow the alkaline neutralizer to dry on the vehicle.

    Apply the product to the vehicle, keeping the surface wet and agitating lightly for 5-7 minutes. In severe conditions, work the product for up to 8 minutes.
  8. Rinse the vehicle thoroughly with cold water to remove the product.
  9. Prepare the detail wash by mixing 29.5 ml (1 fl oz) with 3.8 L of water.
    Material: Motorcraft® Detail Wash / ZC-3-A (ESR-M14P4-A)
  10. Using a clean closed-loop wash mitt, wash the entire vehicle with the shampoo and rinse with cold water. Dry the vehicle completely.
  11. Visually inspect the painted surface for any residual ferrous metal particles. If necessary, repeat the procedure.

  12. NOTICE: When attempting to correct the repair by polishing, buffing or color sanding, do not remove more than 0.3 mil of paint film or finish.

    Apply the compounding product to the vehicle surface in accordance with the product manufacturer's recommendations.
  13. Apply the machine glaze to the vehicle surface in accordance with the product manufacturer's recommendations.
  14. Use a mixture of alcohol and water (1:1) to clean the sanded and polished areas. Check for removal of scratches and swirl marks before applying the finish polish.
  15. Apply the final polishing compound by hand using a dual action polisher and foam pad, or with an orbital polisher and an appropriate polishing pad over the hood.
  16. Wash and dry the vehicle.
    Material: Motorcraft® Detail Wash / ZC-3-A (ESR-M14P4-A)

Repair

  1. Rinse the repair area with pH-neutral soap and water.
    Material: Motorcraft® Detail Wash / ZC-3-A (ESR-M14P4-A)
  2. Remove any trim, emblems and hardware from the area to be repaired.
  3. Sand the damaged surface or treat it with abrasive material, minimizing the repair area.
  4. Treat any bare metal surface to prevent flash rust, and prime and sand as necessary before refinishing.
  5. Mask adjacent panels to protect them from overspray.

  6. NOTICE: Electrified vehicle HVTB (High-Voltage Traction Battery) may be affected and damaged by excessively high temperatures. Temperatures in the paint booths of some body shops may exceed 60 °C. Therefore, during paint operations, the paint booth temperature must be set to 60 °C or lower, with a bake time of 45 minutes or less. Temperatures above 60 °C or a bake longer than 45 minutes will require the HVTB (High-Voltage Traction Battery) to be removed from the vehicle before placing it in the paint booth.

    If necessary, repair the base coat following the paint manufacturer's instructions.
  7. Following the paint manufacturer's instructions, apply the clear coat to the entire panel.
  8. Reinstall any trim, emblems and hardware previously removed from the repair area.

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